Naples attractions

The carefully restored Catacombs of San Gaudioso (Catacombe di San Gaudioso), located beneath the Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità in Naples, are more elaborate than catacombs in some other cities. Take a guided tour to see frescoes once decorated with skulls and adornments dating to the 5th century and hear macabre stories.

This unassuming octagonal church in Naples’ historic center is home to Caravaggio’s dazzling Le sette opere di Misericordia (“The Seven Acts of Mercy”, one of the most important artistic treasures in the city, as well as a small but impressive collection of other Renaissance and Baroque works in the chapel and Quadreria Gallery.

Naples’ paleo-Christian Catacombs of San Gennaro (Catacombe di San Gennaro) are the most important in southern Italy. Used as a burial site from the rise of Christianity until the 10th century, they hold the tombs of many bishops—including Sant’Agrippino, the original patron saint of Naples—and well-preserved mosaics.

Piazza del Mercato has been one of the most important public marketplaces in Naples since ancient Rome. Though the square suffered heavy bombardment during World War II and is now ringed with rather dismal postwar buildings, the vibrant soul of Naples lives on in the bustling street market in the square’s center.

Enthusiasts of World War II history may recognized Avellino as the site of an important Allied attack to cut off retreating German troops in 1943, but today this modern city, set just outside the Monti Picentini Regional Park in the Apennine Mountains, is known primarily for its lovely alpine views and excellent food and wine.

Escape the bustle of Naples with a visit to Terme Stufe di Nerone (The Baths of Nero Stoves). These hot springs are located just outside the city in the volcanic area of the Phlegraean Fields, which offer waters as hot as 165°F (74°C) and have been a popular natural thermal spa since ancient Roman times.

Considered one of the most beautiful private gardens in Europe, La Mortella Botanic Gardens is a highlight of the island of Ischia, and a must-see for garden enthusiasts. Stroll through the valley garden, hill garden, and conservatory to admire the collection of lush plants and flowers, or attend a concert at the gardens’ Greek Theater.

The Picentini Mountains are a popular destination for families and outdoor enthusiasts in the summer, when its wooded slopes and scenic trails offer a respite from the heat and crowds of Naples and Sorrento. Explore thePicentini Mountain Regional Park (Parco Regionale di Monti Picentini) on foot or horseback, enjoy the views from Mount Terminio, or join a guided truffle hunt.

One of the tallest peaks in the Picentini Mountains, Mt. Terminio (Monte Terminio) is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and families in summer, when its scenic trails offer a respite from the heat and crowds of Sorrento and Naples. Visitors can explore the trails on foot or horseback to enjoy the summit views, or join a guided truffle hunt.

A major shipping and ferry port on the southern coast of Italy, Salerno Cruise Port is a popular departure point for shore excursions to the nearby Amalfi Coast. Although the port city has a picturesque historic center, most visitors use Salerno as a jumping-off point to visit other places in the surrounding Campania region.

Spaccanapoli cuts through the historic center of Naples like a straight razor, immersing visitors in some of the city’s best sites and culture. The street is the place to have a quintessential Neapolitan experience—you can’t take more than a few steps without coming across an ancient church, artisan shop, or bustling pizzeria.

Named after the courthouse (tribunale) at its eastern end, this alley-sized street cuts through Naples’ historic center and is among the most atmospheric of the city’s decumani, east-west roads built by ancient Greeks and Romans. It’s the haunt of local lawyers and a tourist thoroughfare near top attractions such as the Sansevero Chapel (Museo Cappella Sansevero) and the artisan shops of San Gregorio Armeno.

The historic center of Naples tumbles so effortlessly downhill toward the sea that you might not know the seafront area actually has a name all its own: Mergellina. Tucked at the foot of Posillipo Hill, the marina here was once the home to the city’s fishing fleet but is now a bustling yacht harbor and ferry port.

Also known as Naples’ Beverly Hills, the neighborhood of Chiaia—right on the seafront—is one of the city’s wealthiest, most upscale districts. With luxury shopping on the main drag and grand 17th-century villas lining the water (plus plenty of spots for gelato and espresso), this is one locale where most tourists won’t mind whiling away an afternoon.

Home to more than 400 animals and 200 plant species, the Naples Zoo (Lo Zoo di Napoli) is made up of a combination of vast animal enclosures and botanical displays. Explore pavilions full of hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, and elephants; visit a variety of reptiles; and enjoy the birds in the zoo’s aviary.

Naples’ Central Funicular (Funicolare Centrale) cable railway has been transporting passengers from the city’s historic center to Piazza Vanvitelli, in the heart of the elegant hilltop Vomero neighborhood, since 1928. This 4,167-foot (1,270-meter) funicular is one of the longest and busiest in the world, carrying over 10 million passengers a year.